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fortable week…end which I shall never forget at his house。 George showed me to the guestroom which； he said； was rarely used。 He told me to unpack my things and then come down to dinner。 After I had stacked my shirts and underclothes in two empty drawers； I decided to hang in the cupboard one of the two suits I had brought with me。 I opened the cupboard door and then stood in front of it petrified。 A skeleton was dangling before my eyes。 The sudden movement of the door made it sway slightly and it gave me the impression that it was about to leap out at me。 Dropping my suit； I dashed downstairs to tell George。 This was worse than 'a terrible secret'； this was a real skeleton ！ But George was unsympathetic。 'Oh； that；' he said with a smile as if he were talking about an old friend。 'That's Sebastian。 You forget that I was a medical student once upon a time。'
Lesson25 The Cutty Sark
One of the most famous sailing ships of the nineteenth century； the Cutty Sark； can still be seen at Greenwich。 She stands on dry land and is visited by thousands of people each year。 She serves as an impressive reminder of the great ships of the past。 Before they were replaced by steam…ships； sailing vessels like the Cutty Sark were used to carry tea from China and wool from Australia。 The Cutty Sark was one of the fastest sailing ships that has ever been built。 The only other ship to match her was the Thermopylae。 Both these ships set out from Shanghai on June 18th； 1872 on an exciting race to England。 This race； which went on for exactly four months； was the last of its kind。 It marked the end of the great tradition of ships with sails and the beginning of a new era。 The first of the two ships to reach Java after the race had begun was the Thermopylae； but on the Indian Ocean； the Cutty Sark took the lead。 It seemed certain that she would be the first ship home； but during the race she had a lot of bad luck。 In August； she was struck by a very heavy storm during which her rudder was torn away。 The Cutty Sark rolled from side to side and it became impossible to steer her。 A temporary rudder was made on board from spare planks and it was fitted with great difficulty。 This greatly reduced the speed of the ship； for there was danger that if she travelled too quickly； this rudder would be torn away as well。 Because of this； the Cutty Sark lost her lead。 After crossing the equator ； the captain called in at a port to have a new rudder fitted； but by now the Thermopylae was over five hundred miles ahead。 Though the new rudder was fitted at tremendous speed； it was impossible for the Cutty Sark to win。 She arrived in England a week after the Thermopylae。 Even this was remarkable； considering that she had had so many delays。 There is no doubt that if she had not lost her rudder she would have won the race easily。
Lesson26 Wanted： a large biscuit tin
No one can avoid being influenced by advertisements。 Much as we may pride ourselves on our good taste； we are no longer free to choose the things we want； for advertising exerts a subtle influence on us。 In their efforts to persuade us to buy this or that product； advertisers have made a close study of human nature and have classified all our little weaknesses。 Advertisers discovered years ago that all of us love to get something for nothing。 An advertisement which begins with the
magic word FREE can rarely go wrong。 These days； advertisers not only offer free samples but free cars； free houses； and free trips round the world as well。 They devise hundreds of competitions which will enable us to win huge sums of money。 Radio and television have made it possible for advertisers to capture the attention of millions of people in this way。 During a radio programme； a company of biscuit manufacturers once asked listeners to bake biscuits and send them to their factory。 They offered to pay 2 a pound for the biggest biscuit baked by a listener。 The response to this competition was tremendous。 Before long； biscuits of all shapes and sizes began arriving at the factory。 One lady brought in a biscuit on a wheelbarrow。 It weighed nearly 500 pounds。 A little later； a man came along with a biscuit which occupied the whole boot of his car。 All the biscuits that were sent were carefully weighed。 The largest was 713 pounds。 It seemed certain that this would win the prize。 But just before the competition closed； a lorry arrived at the factory with a truly colossal biscuit which weighed 2400 pounds。 It had been baked by a college student who had used over 1000 pounds of flour； 800 pounds of sugar； 200 pounds of fat； and 400 pounds of various other ingredients。 It was so heavy that a crane had to be used to remove it from the lorry。 The manufacturers had to pay more money than they had anticipated； for they bought the biscuit from the student for 4800。
Lesson27 Nothing to sell and nothing to buy
It has been said that everyone lives by selling something。 In the light of this statement； teachers live by selling knowledge； philosophers by selling wisdom and priests by selling spiritual comfort。
Though it may be possible to measure the value of material goods in terms of money； it is extremely difficult to estimate the true value of the services which people perform for us。 There are times when we would willingly give everything we possess to save our lives； yet we might
grudge paying a surgeon a high fee for offering us precisely this service。 The conditions of society are such that skills have to be paid for in the same way that goods are paid for at a shop。 Everyone has something to sell。
Tramps seem to be the only exception to this general rule。 Beggars almost sell themselves as human beings to arouse the pity of passers…by。 But real tramps are not beggars。 They have nothing to sell and require nothing from others。 In seeking independence； they do not sacrifice their human dignity。 A tramp may ask you for money； but he will never ask you to feel sorry for him。 He has deliberately chosen to lead the life he leads and is fully aware of the consequences He； may never be sure where the next meal is coming from； but he is free from the thousands of anxieties which afflict other people。 His few material possession make it possible for him to move from place to place with ease… By having to sleep in the open； he gets far closer to the world of nature than most of us ever do。 He may hunt； beg； or steal occasionally to keep himself alive； he may even in times of real need； do a little work； but he will never sacrifice his freedom。 We often speak of tramps with contempt and put them in the same class as beggars； but how many of us can honestly say that we have not felt a little envious of their simple way of life and their freedom from care？
Lesson28 Five pounds too dear
Small boats loaded with wares sped to the great liner as she was entering the harbour。 Before she had anchored； the men from the boats had climbed on board and the decks were soon covered with colourful rugs from Persia； silks from India； copper coffee pots； and beautiful hand…made silver…ware。 It was difficult not to be tempted。 Many of the tourists on board had begun bargaining with the tradesmen； but I decided not to buy anything until I had disemba